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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Mission Planning And Remote Operated Vehicle Simulation In A Virtual Reality Interface, Christopher Samuel Allport May 1999

Mission Planning And Remote Operated Vehicle Simulation In A Virtual Reality Interface, Christopher Samuel Allport

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Virtual reality simulations are finding applications in a wide range of disciplines such as surgical simulation, electronics training, and crime scene investigation. During the Mars Pathfinder Mission, in summer 1997, NASA scientists unveiled a new application of virtual reality for the visualization of a planetary surface. The success of this application led to a more concentrated effort for using virtual reality visualization tools during future missions. The thrust of this effort was to develop a new interface which would allow scientists to interactively plan experiments to be performed by the mission robots. This thesis covers two of the primary aspects …

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Development Of A Decision Support System For Assessment Of Mobile Bridges, Vikram Ramamoorthy May 1999

Development Of A Decision Support System For Assessment Of Mobile Bridges, Vikram Ramamoorthy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The development of a prototype Decision Support System (DSS) for the condition assessment of the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) has been demonstrated in the current work. AVLB is a mobile bridge that has been used by the US Army for tank and assault vehicle crossing. It is employed for spanning short gaps of 50 feet or less in the terrain. The condition assessment of such bridges, to ensure safety of personnel and tank, is of strategic importance. The methodology of the prototype DSS is based on a refined visual inspection procedure and a previously established vibration measurement technique.;Conforming to …

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Design Considerations For Variable Power Split Hydraulic Drives For Industrial Applications, Michael Jan Christian Shellenberger May 1999

Design Considerations For Variable Power Split Hydraulic Drives For Industrial Applications, Michael Jan Christian Shellenberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) offer some advantages over conventional transmissions in industrial applications. During discrete shifts, conventional transmissions suffer from momentary power transmission lapses, which may produce undesirable effects in the system. Currently, the types of CVTs utilized in industry are hydrostatic drives and hydrodynamic couplings. However, these drives are heavy, presenting an obstacle in applications where weight is a concern. In a power split continuously variable transmission (PS-CVT) the power that flows through the hydraulic element is reduced. This allows the overall size and weight of the transmission to be reduced.;The objective of this thesis is to develop a …

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Numerical Analysis Of Direct-Chill Casting Of Aluminum Ingot, Yaping Wu May 1999

Numerical Analysis Of Direct-Chill Casting Of Aluminum Ingot, Yaping Wu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Direct chill (DC) semi-continuous casting is the most efficient way to produce large aluminum ingots. This process consists of three main stages; transient stage, steady-state stage, and post-drop stage. During transient stage, the ingot is subjected to rapid cooling rate and thus resulted in the build-up of high thermal stresses that can often lead to ingot cracking failure.;Based on a fully coupled heat-transfer and thermal-stress analysis model, which has been developed using a commercial finite element (FE) package ABAQUS(TM) with a user subroutine developed in-house, the temperature and stress fields were obtained for various casting conditions. Three post-processing programs were …

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In -Cylinder Combustion -Based Virtual Emissions Sensing, Michael L. Traver May 1999

In -Cylinder Combustion -Based Virtual Emissions Sensing, Michael L. Traver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The development of a real-time, on-board measurement of exhaust emissions from heavy-duty engines would offer tremendous advantages in on-board diagnostics and engine control. In the absence of suitable measurement hardware, an alternative approach is the development of software-based predictive approaches. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using in-cylinder pressure-based variables as the inputs to predictive neural networks that are then used to predict engine-out exhaust gas emissions. Specifically, a large steady-state engine operation data matrix provides the necessary information for training a successful predictive network while at the same time eliminating errors produced by the dispersive and time-delay effects of …

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Role Expectations And Predictions Of Trends For Human Resource Development At Large Public Universities Within The Southern Regional Education Board (Sreb) Area, Drayton Ray Justus Jr. May 1999

Role Expectations And Predictions Of Trends For Human Resource Development At Large Public Universities Within The Southern Regional Education Board (Sreb) Area, Drayton Ray Justus Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to identify the role expectations, reporting hierarchy, years in role and trends in human resource development as reported by the person responsible for human resource development in large public universities within the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) geographic area. The population for this study was all the four-year public universities in Southern Regional Education Board states which were classified by 1997 SREB-State Data Exchange definitions as SREB I (n = 26).;Each institution in the sample was mailed a copy of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Roles Survey, an instrument developed for the purpose of this research. …

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Use Of Wavelet-Packet Transforms To Develop An Engineering Model For Multifractal Characterization Of Mutation Dynamics In Pathological And Nonpathological Gene Sequences, David Lee Walker May 1999

Use Of Wavelet-Packet Transforms To Develop An Engineering Model For Multifractal Characterization Of Mutation Dynamics In Pathological And Nonpathological Gene Sequences, David Lee Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study uses dynamical analysis to examine in a quantitative fashion the information coding mechanism in DNA sequences. This exceeds the simple dichotomy of either modeling the mechanism by comparing DNA sequence walks as Fractal Brownian Motion (fbm) processes. The 2-D mappings of the DNA sequences for this research are from Iterated Function System (IFS) (Also known as the "Chaos Game Representation" (CGR)) mappings of the DNA sequences. This technique converts a 1-D sequence into a 2-D representation that preserves subsequence structure and provides a visual representation. The second step of this analysis involves the application of Wavelet Packet Transforms, …

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Independent Verification Of Specification Models For Large Software Systems At The Early Phases Of Development Lifecycle, Khalid Lateef May 1999

Independent Verification Of Specification Models For Large Software Systems At The Early Phases Of Development Lifecycle, Khalid Lateef

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the major challenges facing the software industry, in general and IV&V (Independent Verification and Validation) analysts in particular, is to find ways for analyzing dynamic behavior of requirement specifications of large software systems early in the development lifecycle. Such analysis can significantly improve the performance and reliability of the developed systems. This dissertation addresses the problem of developing an IV&V framework for extracting semantics of dynamic behavior from requirement specifications based on: (1) SART (Structured Analysis with Realtime) models, and (2) UML (Unified Modeling Language) models.;For SART, the framework presented here shows a direct mapping from SART specification …

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Alterations In Intrinsic Heart Rate In Endotoxemia, Peter Drew Wearden May 1999

Alterations In Intrinsic Heart Rate In Endotoxemia, Peter Drew Wearden

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

After much early debate, it is now well recognized that the origin of the heart beat is myogenic, or intrinsic, to the heart. It has been felt that the intrinsic heart rate (IHR) is constant and that the observed heart rate is controlled by tonal alterations in the activity of the autonomic nervous system in response to various stimuli. Some investigators have recognized, however, that the intrinsic heart rate (IHR) can be altered in certain conditions. Sepsis, or the host response to bacterial infection, is recognized as a stress to the host that results in decreased myocardial contractility and tachycardia. …

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Mean Value Modeling And Control Of A Diesel Engine Using Neural Networks, Yasser Yacoub May 1999

Mean Value Modeling And Control Of A Diesel Engine Using Neural Networks, Yasser Yacoub

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increasingly stringent emissions legislation and demands for improved fuel economy have mandated the need for advanced control algorithms and complicated the diesel engine calibration procedure. To this end, a neural network-based mean value model of a modern turbocharged direct injection diesel engine has been developed and validated. For a pre-specified engine speed schedule and control vector trajectory, the engine model was shown to produce accurate predictions of the turbocharger manifold charging dynamics and combustion efficiency through engine brake torque predictions. The mean value model was coupled with several sub-models to predict exhaust gaseous and particulate emissions and satisfactory predictions were …

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Offerings For Jahilia, Stephen Vincent Martonis May 1999

Offerings For Jahilia, Stephen Vincent Martonis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

These words represent the ideas invested in my paintings. They are progressive and fluctuating thoughts occurring at an interval in time. They are given honestly and freely, as ignorance and change are understood.

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Domains Of Organizational Effectiveness Of Gerontology Centers In Higher Education, Allison Hale Nichols May 1999

Domains Of Organizational Effectiveness Of Gerontology Centers In Higher Education, Allison Hale Nichols

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This is an exploratory study that focuses on organizational effectiveness of gerontology centers and institutes at American universities. The study was modeled after studies of organizational effectiveness in higher education by Kim Cameron of Brigham Young University. The study identifies six domains of effectiveness that are important to gerontology centers and the structural and functional models and characteristics of gerontology centers that may predict the domain in which it is effective. The target population of the study was dominant coalition members of 87 gerontology centers, namely, administrators and faculty members who have the most influence on policy, direction, and performance. …

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Trade And The Environment: A Political Model Of International Public Goods Problem., Qingshui Zhou Jan 1999

Trade And The Environment: A Political Model Of International Public Goods Problem., Qingshui Zhou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent decades there has been a debate over the entwined issues of trade and the environment, and the 1990s witnessed a great rise in global environmental concerns. The purpose of the present study is to seek a cooperative solution to these concerns. Postwar environmental movement, interaction of trade and the environment, and the reconciliation issues are reviewed. Methodologies to studying these issues are categorized into (1) international trade approaches, and (2) environmental economics approaches. A political model-cost sharing game is then proposed. Specifically, environmental problems resulting from trade are treated as international public goods and the issue of optimal …

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The Effects Of Teacher Clarity And Immediacy On Student Learning, Apprehension, And Effect., Joseph Lee Chesebro Jan 1999

The Effects Of Teacher Clarity And Immediacy On Student Learning, Apprehension, And Effect., Joseph Lee Chesebro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the effects clear and immediate teaching have on student learning, state receiver apprehension, and affect. Although teacher clarity and constructs conceptually similar to immediacy have been identified as effective teaching behaviors, few experimental studies have investigated the combined use of these behaviors. This is important because research related to clear teaching suggests that immediacy may be a necessary precursor to clear teaching and that the absence of immediacy may significantly threaten the effectiveness of clear messages. A review of this research is followed by the identification of attributes which characterize clear teachers. The results indicate that clarity, …

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A Qualitative Study Of Five West Virginia K-12 Ruralnet Project Teachers Merging The Internet Into Their Instruction And How The Internet Affects Professional Practice., David A. Falvo Jan 1999

A Qualitative Study Of Five West Virginia K-12 Ruralnet Project Teachers Merging The Internet Into Their Instruction And How The Internet Affects Professional Practice., David A. Falvo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative study explores the day-to-day classroom work of five West Virginia K–12 RuralNet Project teachers, highlighting the drama of integrating technology into learning and showing how these teachers build and refine relationships to foster their sense of professionalism, through the use of technology. This study shows how teachers use the Internet as an instructional resource and as a tool for connecting to other people within and outside of the learning community. The participants of this study began to learn new technology skills during the summer of 1995. Today, they are integrating Internet technology into their daily teaching and planning …

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The Use Of Propositional Structures And Subgoals In Solving Multi-Step College Statistical Word And Formula Problems., Deborah Joan Hendricks Jan 1999

The Use Of Propositional Structures And Subgoals In Solving Multi-Step College Statistical Word And Formula Problems., Deborah Joan Hendricks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This experiment studied the effect of size and format of instructions given to college students enrolled in an introductory statistics course on the number of errors committed and the amount of time required in order to complete a problem. A 3 (size) by 2 (format) factorial design was used. The three sizes of instruction given were propositional structures, subgoals, and complete algorithm. The two formats used were word and formula. The dependent variables used to study errors were Completed Errors, Total Errors, and Accuracy. The dependent variables used to study time were Solution Time, Steps Attempted, Errors per Minute, and …

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Programming Wizards: Generating Syntax-Free Conceptual Editors., Windell Hansford Goff Ii Jan 1999

Programming Wizards: Generating Syntax-Free Conceptual Editors., Windell Hansford Goff Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this project is to develop a generator for a class of syntax-free conceptual editors called "programming wizards". These editors provide a model of software that is especially suitable for novice software developers, freeing them from intricate syntactic details. The effectiveness of these editors is demonstrated by showing how they ease learning of component-based software engineering principles in introductory computer science classrooms. The notion of programming wizard generation is expected to be generally applicable for teaching other principles without the intrusiveness of particular specification / programming syntax.

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The Development Of A Droplet Formation And Entrainment Model For Simulations Of Immiscible Liquid-Liquid Flows., Wesley Michael Wilson Jan 1999

The Development Of A Droplet Formation And Entrainment Model For Simulations Of Immiscible Liquid-Liquid Flows., Wesley Michael Wilson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Droplet formation is a common phenomenon in turbulent mixing and has many practical applications in emulsion technology, surface agents, and liquid-liquid extraction. The ability to predict the relative sizes and distributions of fluid droplets formed from mixing events is a complex problem which is dependent on many different parameters including geometric considerations, the nature and physical properties of the fluids in question, turbulence parameters, buoyancy and body forces, and flow history. While there have been many researchers who have analyzed this problem for both liquid-liquid and gasliquid systems, the present study will focus only on droplet formation in immiscible liquid-liquid …

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Resequencing Topics College Algebra., Nancy A. Skocik Jan 1999

Resequencing Topics College Algebra., Nancy A. Skocik

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the effects of resequencing topics in college algebra. In resequencing, functions and graphing were introduced in the beginning and used throughout the course to facilitate analytical and graphical connections among topics. The study involved three intact sections—one experimental group and two control groups, each taught by a different instructor. The experimental group followed the resequenced curriculum; the two control groups followed the traditional curriculum as found in a standard text. All three groups used the same text. The experimental group (n = 19) and one of the control groups (n = 33) used a lecture/discussion approach and …

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The Effect Of Product Design And Packaging Parameters On Effective Storability And Retrieval: A Computer-Based Approach., Srinath Srivatsavan Jan 1999

The Effect Of Product Design And Packaging Parameters On Effective Storability And Retrieval: A Computer-Based Approach., Srinath Srivatsavan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The product life cycle begins with the feasibility study, design, manufacturing, and moves towards storage, retrieval, and distribution, ultimately ending the life in retirement. The design and manufacturing functions, in this product life cycle, are far apart from the storage, retrieval, and distribution functions. However, the effect and impact of the design function on the storability, retrieval, and distribution functions is significant. The significance is seen in the form of the costs incurred and committed to the storage infrastructure and materials handling activities. The product design parameters also influence the unit design aspects when the products are packaged as units …

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An Experimental And Computational Investigation Of Microwave Regeneration Of Diesel Particulate Traps., Sriram S. Popuri Jan 1999

An Experimental And Computational Investigation Of Microwave Regeneration Of Diesel Particulate Traps., Sriram S. Popuri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the number and power ratings of diesel engines in both on-road and off-road applications are increasing, concern over the health effects of the exhaust emissions, especially diesel particulate matter (DPM) is becoming more significant. One of the most effective exhaust after-treatment methods is to use ceramic traps to control DPM emissions. Periodic cleaning of traps (regeneration) is essential as the flow resistance progressively increases during filtration of DPM. However, the existing regeneration technologies for ceramic particulate traps are uneconomical and/or cause structural damage to the ceramic trap element. Microwave energy offers the advantage of selectively heating only the DPM, …

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Cultivating Hallowed Ground: The Use Of Garden Imagery As A Contemporary Symbol Of The Sacred., Claudia Teresa Giannini Jan 1999

Cultivating Hallowed Ground: The Use Of Garden Imagery As A Contemporary Symbol Of The Sacred., Claudia Teresa Giannini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

By engaging in the artistic processes of printmaking and photography, I am attempting to formulate visual images that evoke a sense of connection between human beings and the natural world. This thesis explores the way that I have incorporated ideas from the Deep Ecology movement in literature to create works of art that present a paradigm based on the interconnectedness of all life as opposed to the domination of nature by man. The focus of this examination was my own garden. The use of formal elements such as geometric forms, scale and repetition to convey the sacred aspects of this …

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The Productive Efficiency Analysis Of Chinese Steel Firms: An Application Of Data Envelopment Analysis., Weidong Chen Jan 1999

The Productive Efficiency Analysis Of Chinese Steel Firms: An Application Of Data Envelopment Analysis., Weidong Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Efficiency has become one of the most important factors for the survival and development of Chinese steel firms as the economic and political reforms in China deepen. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric approach to the measurement of efficiency, is applied to the cross sectional data of 35 of the largest Chinese steel firms to estimate the technical efficiency of these firms in a multi-input/output situation. In this thesis, 6 input and 4 output variables are chosen. The empirical study demonstrates the need to reduce resources consumption, especially the number of employee, and to increase outputs, particularly the profit …

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From Turnpikes To Railroads: Antebellum Transportation Improvements And Community Development In Taylor County, Virginia, Scott W. Daley Jan 1999

From Turnpikes To Railroads: Antebellum Transportation Improvements And Community Development In Taylor County, Virginia, Scott W. Daley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the 1820s, a revolution in transportation technology changed forever the shipment of goods, travel, and the process of communication as overland transportation shifted from turnpikes to railroads. This study examines the affect on community formation and development in two turnpike villages and one town along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, America’s first inter-regional commercial railroad line. Between the mid-1830s and 1860, as railroads replaced turnpikes, the villages of Fetterman and Pruntytown, Virginia, came into existence, flourished, and began to decline as railroads passed along the lower Tygart River in 1850, directly competing with turnpikes. The town of Grafton in …

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A Comparison Of Performance Of Students Referred For Gifted Evaluation On The Wisc-Iii And Binet Iv., James Edward Mullins Jan 1999

A Comparison Of Performance Of Students Referred For Gifted Evaluation On The Wisc-Iii And Binet Iv., James Edward Mullins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined the performances of students referred for placement in gifted programs on the WISC-III and Binet IV. The first research question asked which subtests and index scores of the WISC-III relate most strongly to placement. All subtests except Arithmetic and Coding were significantly correlated with placement. Both the Verbal Conceptualization Index (WVCI) and the Perceptual Organization Index (WPOI) Scores were found to be significantly correlated with placement. In addition, discriminant function analyses were computed. Both WVCI and WPOI were found to be significant predictors of placement. Of the WISC-III subtests, all were significant predictors except Information (WINFO) …

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To Change Or Not To Change: A Case Study Of One Urban High School's Technological Transformational Process., Diana L. Wisell Jan 1999

To Change Or Not To Change: A Case Study Of One Urban High School's Technological Transformational Process., Diana L. Wisell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study utilized a case study format for examining one urban high school's inclusion of technology and subsequent changes to the curriculum, school design, school organization, and teachers' pedagogy brought about as a consequence. Specifically, the study addressed five broad questions: (1) How do teachers view technology's role in their curriculum? (2) What is the role of computers in curriculum change? (3) Does extended work with computers change the types of communications processes used? (4) How does work with computers change (a) instructional practices, (b) overall school design, and (c) school organization? and (5) What is the role of change …

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A Distributed-Memory Implementation Of Kiva-3 With Refinements For Large Eddy Simulation., Aytekin Gel Jan 1999

A Distributed-Memory Implementation Of Kiva-3 With Refinements For Large Eddy Simulation., Aytekin Gel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In spite of the tremendous advancement of computer technology within the last decade, today's grand challenge problems are still beyond the numerical simulation capability of the most state-of-the-art hardware. Fluid dynamics problems involving the prediction capability for turbulent flows represent one example for such situations. Large eddy simulation (LES) is a viable alternative to direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulent flows due to the fact that certain portion of the detailed small-scale information resolved in DNS is suppressed in LES technique in order to make the computational problem more tractable. However, even with LES, today's challenging problems require accurate schemes …

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Selecting The Most Qualified Teacher Applicant Utilizing West Virginia Code Section 18a-4-7a., Paul E. Barcus Jan 1999

Selecting The Most Qualified Teacher Applicant Utilizing West Virginia Code Section 18a-4-7a., Paul E. Barcus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of county school superintendents, county personnel directors, principals, and teachers in West Virginia who had been involved in the teacher selection process concerning the effectiveness of West Virginia State Code §18A-4-7a. More specifically, this study examined the perceived effectiveness of the second set of criteria found therein in leading to the employment of the most qualified applicant for a classroom teaching position in the public schools of West Virginia. A descriptive research design through a questionnaire was used which involved the analysis of the responses by the participants in the …

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The Effects Of Teaching In A Professional Development School And The National Council Of Teachers Of Mathematics Professional Standards., Laora Dauberman Brizendine Jan 1999

The Effects Of Teaching In A Professional Development School And The National Council Of Teachers Of Mathematics Professional Standards., Laora Dauberman Brizendine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics presents a vision of what necessary components should be included in teaching mathematics to support the reforms presented in the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards . The six Professional Standards offer insight, guidance, and vignettes explaining how a mathematics teacher at the K–12 levels can and should guide their students in the attainment of mathematical power. The Holmes Group, a consortium of Deans from Colleges of Education within large research universities in the United States, has as its primary goal to reform teacher education programs as well as …

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A Discrete Choice Based Facility Location Model For Inland Container Depots., Yuanquan Xu Jan 1999

A Discrete Choice Based Facility Location Model For Inland Container Depots., Yuanquan Xu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Container transport operations have been extending inland, providing more comprehensive service across the shipping network. Accordingly, container transport operators are making extensive capital investments in deploying inland container depot (ICD) networks. Optimizing the location of such facilities financially is vital for both capital and operating efficiencies. Currently, there are no models at the regional network level to guide container operators in locating ICDs on their networks. This research studies the ICD location problem and develops a comprehensive ICD location model. Based on comprehensive analysis of the container transport industry, focusing on ICD operations, this thesis developed a useful formulation of …

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